By: Matt Rappa, managing editor 
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Three days into Grapefruit League play, the Philadelphia Phillies will send right-hander Jake Thompson and southpaw Adam Morgan to the mound Thursday afternoon for their spring training debuts in split-squad action against the Houston Astros and New York Yankees.
Starting Pitching Matchups:
Home, Bright House Field
| Houston Astros (0-0) | Philadelphia Phillies (0-1-1) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Doug Fister | RHP | Jake Thompson | ||
| (2015: 5-7, 4.19 ERA) | (2015, Double-A: 11-7, 3.73 ERA) | ||||
Fister, 32, was reportedly targeted by the Phillies this offseason in free agency before he signed a one-year, $7 million contract on Jan. 28. The Phillies instead opted to acquire right-hander Charlie Morton from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Dec. 12 in exchange for minor-league right-hander David Whitehead. Morton is owed $8 million this season, and has a $9.5 million mutual option for 2017 with a $1 million team buyout.
Thompson, 22, will be making his Phillies debut this afternoon, nearly seven months after being acquired from the Texas Rangers in the eight-player transaction centered around 2008 World Series Most Valuable Player Cole Hamels. In seven starts with the Reading Fightin Phils last season, Thompson allowed just 33 hits, 12 walks and nine runs over 45 innings of work to post an even, 1.000 WHIP ratio.
—
Away, George M. Steinbrenner Field
| Philadelphia Phillies (0-1-1) | New York Yankees (1-0) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHP | Adam Morgan | RHP | Ivan Nova | ||
| (2015: 5-7, 4.48 ERA) | (2015: 6-11, 5.07 ERA) | ||||
Morgan, who turned 26 on Saturday, returns for his second season in red pinstripes. In 15 starts last season, the southpaw allowed 88 hits, 45 runs (42 earned), 14 home runs and 17 walks spanning 84 1/3 innings.
Morgan currently is on the outside looking in on the rotation depth chart, as he is currently listed as the seventh starter behind right-handers Jeremy Hellickson, Morton, Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff and Vincent Velasquez, in addition to left-hander Brett Oberholtzer.
Nova, 29, avoided arbitration with the Yankees on Jan. 28 by agreeing to a one-year, $4.1 million contract. Following a return from Tommy John surgery in 2014, the six-year veteran struggled at home in nine starts last season, as he allowed 32 earned runs in 46 2/3 innings for a 6.17 ERA.
Starting Lineups:
| vs. Houston Astros (0-0) | at New York Yankees (1-0) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 1 | CF | Roman Quinn | S |
| 2 | LF | Peter Bourjos | R | 2 | SS | J.P. Crawford | L |
| 3 | C | Andrew Knapp | S | 3 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 4 | 1B | Ryan Howard | L | 4 | 1B | Darin Ruf | R |
| 5 | DH | Carlos Ruiz | R | 5 | DH | Aaron Altherr | R |
| 6 | RF | Nick Williams | L | 6 | RF | Tyler Goeddel | R |
| 7 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 7 | C | J.P. Arencibia | R |
| 8 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 8 | 2B | Emmanuel Burriss | S |
| 9 | 3B | Taylor Featherston | R | 9 | LF | Cedric Hunter | L |
See: Astros lineup, Yankees lineup
Broadcast Information:
- vs. Houston Astros, 1:05 p.m.
- Clearwater – Bright House Field
- TV: TCN, MLBN, MLB.TV; Radio: N/A
- at New York Yankees, 1:05 p.m.
- Tampa - George M. Steinbrenner Field
- TV: N/A; Radio: N/A
Game Notes:
- Despite being under the weather on Wednesday, notes Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com, Tyler Goeddel and Nick Williams will be both be starting in right field this afternoon against the Astros and Yankees, respectively.
- vs. Astros:
- Probable relief pitchers: Zach Eflin, Colton Murray, Elvis Araujo, Greg Burke, James Russell and Ernesto Frieri
- Minor league additions: Edgar Cabral (catcher), Tommy Joseph (catcher)
- at Yankees:
- Probably relief pitchers: Alec Asher, Mark Appel, Daniel Stumpf and Edward Mujica
- Minor league additions: Andrew Pullin (outfielder), Jesmuel Valentin (infielder)
What's Next:
- Friday, March 4, 2016: vs. Atlanta Braves, 1:05 p.m.
- Clearwater – Bright House Field
- RHP Lucas Sims (2015, Double-A: 4-2, 3.21 ERA) vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (2015: 9-12, 4.62 ERA)
- TV: TCN, MLB.TV; Radio: WFOM 1230, WIFN 1340
